Knowledge Transfer

What do you do if you have a good idea which you believe has commercial potential?

To assess the best route to exploit potential opportunities:

Identifying the research with potential commercial value by disclosing the idea to DCU Invent (LINK TO IDF)

The invention/idea is evaluated technically and commercially by DCU Invent

If needed the idea is protected though a range of intellectual property rights

The idea is commercialised through marketing or further development

The idea is licenced to an existing company or to a spin-out

1. Submit your idea to DCU Invent through an invention disclosure form (IDF).
The IDF will be logged and reviewed by one of DCU Invent’s Case Managers. A meeting will be scheduled with you to discuss the idea. Central to this discussion will be an assessment of the commercial potential.

2. Evaluation of an IDF
It is essential to establish clearly that a current or future market exists for your idea, before proceeding with the commercialisation process. It is also important to assess the technical merits of the idea for novelty. This evaluation will be carried out by the DCU Invent Business Development Director assigned to your school or research centre.

3. Protection of research output with intellectual property rights
Should DCU Invent decide the IDF represents a patentable invention; DCU Invent will draft a patent application as appropriate. However, most inventions are not initially suitable for patenting and can be protected through non-disclosure. This means not publishing or presenting on the idea, even among colleagues.

4. Commercialising Inventions
If a decision is made to commercialise the invention (whether it is patentable or not), DCU Invent will decide on a commercialisation strategy which could mean further internal development, marketing to a company, or formation of a spin-out company. If a company expresses interest, the parties will sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) so that DCU Invent can share confidential information to enable the company to more fully evaluate the opportunity.

5. Licensing of Inventions
If the marketing efforts are successful, the ultimate goal is to license your invention either on a non-exclusive or exclusive basis to a company.

Knowledge Transfer Ireland is the national office that helps business to benefit from access to Irish expertise and technology by making it simple to connect and engage with the research base in Ireland. Knowledge Transfer Ireland enables companies to innovate their business by signposting to novel technology and research expertise in Ireland and by providing best practice guidance to simplify the process of accessing this rich source of opportunity.